University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Band 5 Catering Co-ordinator

The closing date is 06 April 2026

Job summary

Join the Catering team at University Hospitals Birmingham as a Band 5 Catering Co-ordinator based at Solihull Hospital, supporting the delivery of high-quality food services for patients, staff and visitors within one of the NHS's largest Trusts. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a busy Central Production Unit.

The role focuses on coordinating the day-to-day running of patient catering, supporting food production, supervising staff and ensuring meals are produced in line with approved menus, dietary requirements and food safety standards. The post holder will work closely with ward teams, nursing staff and dietitians to ensure safe and effective meal provision for patients, while also supporting retail and hospitality services to maintain high standards of customer service.

This role is ideal for someone with strong operational catering experience who enjoys leading teams, maintaining high food safety standards and overseeing the daily operation of the Central Production Unit, while also coordinating ward catering services and supporting the management of retail and hospitality outlets at Solihull Hospital.

Main duties of the job

The Catering Co-ordinator will support the day-to-day operational management of the Catering Department and Central Production Unit at Solihull Hospital, ensuring the safe and efficient production and delivery of meals for patients, staff and visitors. The role works closely with ward staff, dietitians and suppliers to ensure services run smoothly and food is produced in line with approved menus, dietary requirements and food safety legislation. The post holder will play a key role in supervising staff, maintaining high food safety standards and supporting the continuous improvement of catering services within University Hospitals Birmingham.

Main duties include:

* Supporting the daily operation of the Central Production Unit and patient food production

* Supervising chefs, catering assistants and team leaders to ensure service standards are maintained

* Coordinating staffing rotas, staffing levels and daily work allocation

* Ensuring meals are produced in line with approved menus, portion standards and dietary requirements

* Working closely with ward teams and dietitians to support safe patient meal provision

* Supporting the management of retail and hospitality catering services

* Monitoring food safety systems including HACCP, allergen management and hygiene standards

* Managing food ordering, stock control and supplier communication

* Supporting staff training, inductions, appraisals and sickness absence management

About us

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.

Date posted

17 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

304-9015833

Job locations

Solihull Hospital

Lode Ln

Solihull

West Midlands

B91 2JL

Job description

Job responsibilities

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Job description

Job responsibilities

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

*Knowledge of the full range of catering service procedures, practices and equipment, including advanced food hygiene requirements, with additional knowledge gained through training and experience to diploma equivalent level (e.g. specialist diets, health and safety, basic management principles).
*Level 3 Food Safety qualification (Highfield or CIEH awarding bodies).
*Level 3 HACCP qualification (Highfield or CIEH awarding bodies).
*Evidence of Continued professional development.

Desirable

*Level 4 Food Safety Qualification
*Allergen Awareness Level 3

Experience

Essential

*Significant (recent) experience in a food production/catering environment preferably in the NHS.
*Management of HR related issues
*Knowledge of large catering production operations, food safety, cook chill processes, HACCP and dietary requirements.
*Knowledge of current food hygiene legislation
*Experience of rota management and workforce planning

Desirable

*Experience of working within NHS
*Knowledge of budget management and income generation.
*Recruitment & selection process
*Experience of managing retail outlets

Additional Criteria

Essential

*Excellent communication skills in order to deal with a wide range of patients, visitors and staff (at all levels)
*Confident and able to work with regulatory bodies, e.g. EHO
*Ability to lead, motivate and support a team
*Conflict resolution and mediation skills
*Respectful and courteous approach to all staff groups and clients.
*Supportive to colleagues.
*Ability to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines and providing all necessary analysis/reports to schedule.
*Communicate well with patients, visitors and service users.
*Willing and able to facilitate change and motivate others to accept change.
*Well motivated to manage a successful team of staff and promote a positive image of the departments.
*Willing to act on own initiative.

Desirable

*Full UK Driving License

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

*Knowledge of the full range of catering service procedures, practices and equipment, including advanced food hygiene requirements, with additional knowledge gained through training and experience to diploma equivalent level (e.g. specialist diets, health and safety, basic management principles).
*Level 3 Food Safety qualification (Highfield or CIEH awarding bodies).
*Level 3 HACCP qualification (Highfield or CIEH awarding bodies).
*Evidence of Continued professional development.

Desirable

*Level 4 Food Safety Qualification
*Allergen Awareness Level 3

Experience

Essential

*Significant (recent) experience in a food production/catering environment preferably in the NHS.
*Management of HR related issues
*Knowledge of large catering production operations, food safety, cook chill processes, HACCP and dietary requirements.
*Knowledge of current food hygiene legislation
*Experience of rota management and workforce planning

Desirable

*Experience of working within NHS
*Knowledge of budget management and income generation.
*Recruitment & selection process
*Experience of managing retail outlets

Additional Criteria

Essential

*Excellent communication skills in order to deal with a wide range of patients, visitors and staff (at all levels)
*Confident and able to work with regulatory bodies, e.g. EHO
*Ability to lead, motivate and support a team
*Conflict resolution and mediation skills
*Respectful and courteous approach to all staff groups and clients.
*Supportive to colleagues.
*Ability to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines and providing all necessary analysis/reports to schedule.
*Communicate well with patients, visitors and service users.
*Willing and able to facilitate change and motivate others to accept change.
*Well motivated to manage a successful team of staff and promote a positive image of the departments.
*Willing to act on own initiative.

Desirable

*Full UK Driving License

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Solihull Hospital

Lode Ln

Solihull

West Midlands

B91 2JL

Employer's website

https://www.uhb.nhs.uk/jobs.htm (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Solihull Hospital

Lode Ln

Solihull

West Midlands

B91 2JL

Employer's website

https://www.uhb.nhs.uk/jobs.htm (Opens in a new tab)